The Getaway

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: SCEA
  • Release Date: Jan 21, 2003
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 123 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 123
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 123
  3. Negative: 24 out of 123
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  1. Chuck76
    Mar 31, 2003
    6
    Probably the most hyped and over-rated game of the year (in the uk anyway). The humour, graphics and superb story line are the biggest acheivment of this title. Once you've got used to the sluggish controls, slightly too realistic driving physics and the awkward but rewarding aiming system this game can be pretty cool. But as you get further you grow bored of the cut scenes, the Probably the most hyped and over-rated game of the year (in the uk anyway). The humour, graphics and superb story line are the biggest acheivment of this title. Once you've got used to the sluggish controls, slightly too realistic driving physics and the awkward but rewarding aiming system this game can be pretty cool. But as you get further you grow bored of the cut scenes, the constant repeating of the same tasks and similar missions. A word of warning, if you're the kinda guy who gets infuriated to the point where you wanna put your controller through the TV give this game a miss! The feel of a movie is what this game stes out to do and it delivers but that's also the biggest flaw. If I wanna watch a movie I will. Definitely worth playin' should take a week or less to crack. Try an take advantage of some stores 10 day return policy (oops shouldn't really say that, ha). A must if you live in London though.… Expand
  2. THeimminent26
    Mar 6, 2003
    7
    If you enjoy action games you should at least give this game a try, while not an unbelivable title I think most people should enjoy this game. However at times this game can really get annyoying, I wouldn't recomend it for the shortempered. THe driving segments at first are very sweet but I easily bored of the very repititive steal car, drive to other side of town with cops chasing If you enjoy action games you should at least give this game a try, while not an unbelivable title I think most people should enjoy this game. However at times this game can really get annyoying, I wouldn't recomend it for the shortempered. THe driving segments at first are very sweet but I easily bored of the very repititive steal car, drive to other side of town with cops chasing you the entire way, to much traffic feel. THe story was pretty entertaining, and think it is pretty nice to see people making movie like games. If you prefer complete realism (or something like it) play the getaway, If you'd like unrealism Play GTA. THat is pretty much it. .........Listen to the massive 26.........… Expand
  3. D.Farr
    Dec 17, 2002
    7
    Well worth renting for a night or 2 but would not reccomend parting with your hard earned cash for it!!! GTA Vice city is by far the better purchase however you have to admire the level of detail put into this title its just a shame they didnt put the same level of thought into the gameplay.
  4. HonestOpinion
    Dec 19, 2002
    7
    This is a good game but not without its faults, london is perfectly re-created but with no in game map is hard to negotiate unless you're a london cab driver. well worth a look but not as good as gta vice city.
  5. MicahC.
    Mar 8, 2003
    6
    One of the few games where u don't wanna skip the cutscenes.
  6. MathewP.
    Jan 1, 2004
    5
    Now don't get me wrong, I really wanted to like this game. I really like British gangster films (and they go beyond Snatch and Lock Stock people). But his game has some major drawbacks. The controls are frustratingly stiff, and the cars are painful to drive. Realism is always a nice touch, but i could not for the life of me, get passed the guy with the shottie, when going dowenstairs Now don't get me wrong, I really wanted to like this game. I really like British gangster films (and they go beyond Snatch and Lock Stock people). But his game has some major drawbacks. The controls are frustratingly stiff, and the cars are painful to drive. Realism is always a nice touch, but i could not for the life of me, get passed the guy with the shottie, when going dowenstairs in the museum. Mark cannot take too much damage. On a good note, the graphics are pretty damn nice, and the cut scenes are a joy to watch. But sadly, I just didn't find it Fun. And that, first and foremost are what games are supposed to be to me. … Expand
  7. Stomp
    Jan 11, 2003
    7
    Damian J: (About GTA VC) "living, breathing world where you can do anything you want" - Yep. As long as you do something violent. I agree with Freud, GTA VC is more of a kiddy game. Nevertheless, I think The Getaway has some serious shortcomings. The camera being the major one. Still, a great game.
  8. JesseE.
    Jan 8, 2003
    7
    I really wanted to give this game a 6.5. While I really enjoyed parts of this game, I found myself REALLY NOT ENJOYING other parts. For example, I felt the indicator system in the vehicles was confusing - leading to going around in circles. The save points were FAR, FAR, FAR to spread out - especially when you get into levels like the mansion where the awkward control method almost always I really wanted to give this game a 6.5. While I really enjoyed parts of this game, I found myself REALLY NOT ENJOYING other parts. For example, I felt the indicator system in the vehicles was confusing - leading to going around in circles. The save points were FAR, FAR, FAR to spread out - especially when you get into levels like the mansion where the awkward control method almost always invariably made you trip the lasers. Controlling the character was mostly fun, but prone to annoying vagrancies. For example, when hiding up against a wall, or an object for cover you had to press x to target anything other than the door you are adjacent to. ANNOYING. Still good for a rental though.… Expand
  9. NeilC.
    Feb 25, 2003
    5
    Not as challenging as Vice, the levels feel far more staged, and there is a feeling of the user getting herded into doing things. Anybody looking for realism in a game should perhaps stick to movies and not comment on video games. To those who said it couldn't be done - correct.
  10. Zack
    Apr 27, 2003
    5
    I didn't necassarily like this game but i didn't dislike it. Rockstar should combine the graphics from the Getaway to the freedom and fun of Vice City. That would be a great game but the getaway was kind of a movie. also the controls sucked.
  11. UnBiased
    Dec 16, 2002
    6
    Would have been good, had GTA3 not come out a year earlier and done everything this game tries to do better. Vice city is a far more expansive experience and isn't ashamed of being a game, as this appears to be.
  12. Fozzy
    Aug 26, 2013
    7
    The Getaway is a fun game, but not in the sense that you will get an exceptional amount of enjoyment out of the act of playing. Its fun because of the obscurity and the fact that you're trying something new. The graphics are astonishing but the gameplay is tiring and boring. This game, if it were a film, would succeed massively. It has an astonishing plot, great voice acting and is wellThe Getaway is a fun game, but not in the sense that you will get an exceptional amount of enjoyment out of the act of playing. Its fun because of the obscurity and the fact that you're trying something new. The graphics are astonishing but the gameplay is tiring and boring. This game, if it were a film, would succeed massively. It has an astonishing plot, great voice acting and is well written on the whole. It works very well as a film, but as a game? No. Sorry.… Expand
  13. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Apr 23, 2022
    7
    An action crime game that pulls much from British gangster movies. It's cinematic and experimental, but flawed. There is no HUD, no health packs or city map to assist you. When driving to a location, a vehicle's blinkers will light up to signal where to turn. The story is terrific, the shooting is fun, but vehicle physics are too realistic for their own good. If you love Guy Ritchie orAn action crime game that pulls much from British gangster movies. It's cinematic and experimental, but flawed. There is no HUD, no health packs or city map to assist you. When driving to a location, a vehicle's blinkers will light up to signal where to turn. The story is terrific, the shooting is fun, but vehicle physics are too realistic for their own good. If you love Guy Ritchie or classic British crime movies, you'll like this game. Overall, I would rate this with a 7.5 out of 10.… Expand
  14. RafaelBarrera
    Feb 25, 2019
    6
    Not a great game. The controls were really uncomfortable and I'm comparing it to other ps2 games... such as Max Payne or El Padrino (similarity of gaming). But controlling a police seeking revenge felt badass for me, so just because of that 6/10
  15. CausticMisery
    Jan 28, 2023
    6
    A Guy Ritchie movie on the PS2. Fun for a one-time play, but why the hell doesn't the right stick move the camera??
  16. Anon1236789
    Aug 9, 2023
    5
    Story: Excellent
    Gameplay: Too bad
    Coming from The Getaway: Black Monday, the control from Black Monday is already that bad (unnatural so to say) and this one is just feels way worse than Black Monday. There is no way you can switch that Inverted AIM controls back to normal. Healing system feels so slow compared to Black Monday. Driving mechanics still bad, even worse on this game    Story: Excellent
    Gameplay: Too bad

    Coming from The Getaway: Black Monday, the control from Black Monday is already that bad (unnatural so to say) and this one is just feels way worse than Black Monday. There is no way you can switch that Inverted AIM controls back to normal. Healing system feels so slow compared to Black Monday. Driving mechanics still bad, even worse on this game compared to Black Monday. Worst Vehicle Navigation, good luck finding your way to your objective when you're lost, because the navigation only tells you where the objective is, not when to turn, on top of that, there's no map. So you'll pretty often leaded to a wrong way by the navigation alone

    Other than that, the story is very cool.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

99
#99 Best PS2 Game of 2003
15
#15 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
22
#22 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 49 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 49
  3. Negative: 4 out of 49
  1. GamerWeb Sony
    90
    This game deserves a look at, even if just to admire the scope to which Lindon was recreated and the movie-like feel.
    Read full review
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    25
    The level of detail is extraordinary... but the slickest graphic presentation can't cover for Getaway's flawed script... In a game infused with more humor and less pretentious aspirations, these flaws would be more forgivable. [24 Jan 2003, p.106]
  3. Game Informer
    90
    It's definitely the closest video games have ever come to capturing the essence of a kick-ass action flick. [Feb 2003, p.92]
See all critic reviews »